Ampoule applicator with one-way clutch

ABSTRACT

An ampoule applicator comprising a hollow, cylindrical body having a chamber at one end for mounting a medicament-containing hypodermic ampoule having a depressible portion for injecting a volume of medicament into a patient. The applicator also includes a spring-biased force-applying member for actuating the ampoule. The force-applying member may be retracted against the bias of the spring by a cocking lever which rotates a pulley at one end of the applicator. A flexible cable is fixed at one end to the force-applying member and is fixed at its other end to the pulley so that, as the pulley is rotated, the cable is wrapped about the pulley and the force-applying member is retracted. A one-way check mechanism is provided between the force-applying member and the applicator body to permit retraction of the force-applying member but to prevent movement toward the ampoule during retraction. The one-way check mechanism includes a slot in the applicator body having tapered sidewalls which converge toward the ampoule-mounting end of the applicator and a ball which is positioned between the force-applying member and the body. The ball is spring-biased into light frictional contact with the force-applying member and the converging sidewalls of the slot, and is operable to roll along the slot toward the ampoulemounting end of the applicator by forward movement of the forceapplying member and into tight frictional contact with the forceapplying member to prevent movement of that member toward the ampoule. The force-applying member is released by inserting a pin in the slot to move the ball away from the ampoule-mounting end of the applicator.

United States Patent Hurschman et al.

[ AMPOULE APPLICATOR WITH ONE-WAY CLUTCH Inventors: Alfred A. Hurschman,Hudson;

Leslie R. Udell, Cuyahoga Falls, both of Ohio [73] Assignee: Ampoules,Inc., Macedonia, Ohio by said Alfred A. Hurschman Filed: July 10, 1972Appl. No.: 270,145

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,729,003 4/1973 Hurschman128/218 F 3,094,121 6/1963 Blumenstein et a1... 128/218 D 2,472,1166/1949 Maynes 128/218 F 3,625,208 12/1971 Frost et al.... 128/173 l-l2,864,635 12/1958 Lindner 292/305 X 3,502,358 3/1970- Alspaugh et a1.74/531 X 2,528,002 10/1950 Katzberg 74/531 X 3,298,666 1/1967 Prange74/531 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 31.681 12/1926 France 128/218 D958.526 9/1949 France 1.174.719 11/1958 France 128/218 F PrimaryExamirierRichard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerJ. C. McGowan Attorney,Agent, or Firm-McNenny, Farrington, Pearne & Gordon [451 Mar. 19, 1974 71 ABSTRACT An ampoule applicator comprisinlg a hollow, cylindrical bodyhaving a chamber at one end for mounting a medicament-containinghypodermic ampoule having a depressible portion for injecting a volumeof medicament into a patient. The applicator also includes aspring-biased force-applying member for actuating the ampoule. Theforce-applying member may be retracted against the bias of the spring bya cocking lever which rotates a pulley at one end of the applicator. Aflexible cable is fixed at one end to the forceapplying member and isfixed at its other end to the pulley so that, as the pulley is rotated,the cable is wrapped about the pulley and the force-applying member isretracted. A one-way check mechanism is provided between theforce-applying member and the applicator body to permit retraction ofthe forceapplying member but to prevent movement toward the ampouleduring retraction. The one-way check mechanism includes a slot in theapplicator body having tapered sidewalls which converge toward theampoulemounting end of the applicator and a ball which is positionedbetween the force-applying member and the body. Theball is spring-biasedinto light frictional Contact with the force-applying member and theconverging sidewalls of the slot, and is operable to roll along the slottoward the ampoule-mounting end of the applicator by forward movement ofthe forceapplying member and into tight frictional contact with theforce-applying member to prevent movement of that member toward theampoule. The force-applying member is released by inserting a pin in theslot to move the ball away from the ampoule-mounting end of theapplicator.

19 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures AMPOULE APPLICATOR WITH ONE-WAY CLUTCHBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to reusableapplicators for disposable hypodermic ampoules which are designed togive injections into or below the skin of human beings and animals.These applicators basically comprise an ampoule-receiving chamber at oneend thereof and a spring-biased force-applying manner which is retractedor cocked against the force of the spring and locked in that position bya locking mechanism. When the locking mechanism is released, theforce-applying member engages a depressible portion of the ampoule tocause medicament to be expressed from the ampoule and into the patient.The ampoule may be a needleless or hypojet injector which performs ahypodermic injection without employing a skin-penetrating needle toeffect such injections. A more common ampoule is the containedneedle-type having a cylindrical, medicamentcontaining chamber and aplunger closing one end thereof. A hollow needle is fixed to the plungerand is initially contained within such chamber and the other end of theampoule is sealed by a diaphragm which is adapted to be punctured by theneedle when force is applied to the plunger. With the diaphragm incontact with the patients skin, the diaphragm may be punctured by theneedle and the medicament may be injected into the patient as a functionof the degree of depression of the plunger. Another form of ampoule isthe collapsible type shown in U. S. Pat. Nos. 3,094,987 and 3,094,988 toDunmire.

As was indicated previously, reusable ampoule applicators include aspring which biases the force-applying member toward the ampoule plungerand include a locking device which holds the plunger in a cocked orretracted position. The usual manner of moving the force-applying meansto its cocked position is by means of a toggle mechanism or by means ofan extension of the force-applying means which projects axially fromtheapplicator. Examples of the toggle mechanism may be found in U. S.Pat. Nos. 3,094,121, 3,217,712, and 3,236,237. According to thesepatents, the applicator comprises an elongated, hollow body that housesa spring-biased force-applying member. An external arm or lever and atrigger mechanism are provided to retract the spring-biasedforce-applying member within the housing into a cocked position againstthe force of an actuating spring and to release or fire theforceapplying member so that it is forcibly driven by the spring towardthe ampoule for actuating it to perform an injection. The external armor lever is connected to the force-applying member by a toggle linkagewhich retracts the force-applying member as the lever is swung away fromthe body of the applicator. The forceapplying member includes twoflanged members which are connected by a lost motion mechanism. Thespring is positioned between end flanges of these members, and thisentire assembly is drawn upwardly by the toggle linkage until a lockingdetent engages a portion of the sidewall of the hollow body. When thelocking detent is engaged, the lever is then forced toward theapplicator body to foreshorten the lost motion linkage and therebycompress the spring. By releasing the detent, the force-applyingmechanism is driven toward mechanism. This results in an unwieldy andsomewhat bulky applicator. Furthermore, toggle linkage arrangements aresubject to wear at a number of pivot points. Secondly, a majordisadvantage of such an arrangement is the fact that if the handle isreleased prior to releasing the locking detent, the handle will springback against the bias of the spring and may injure the user.

As was previously indicated, the force-applying member of an ampouleapplicator may be retracted to a locked position by axially withdrawinga projecting end portion of the force-applying member. Such anarrangement is shown in U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,704,072 and 2,322,245 (FIGS.12 and 13). Since these devices require a straight pull on the springwithout any mechanical advantage, it is difficult to compress relativelystrong springs. Furthermore, when the force-applying member is released(either accidentally while the force-applying member is being retracted,or deliberately by triggering the device), there exists the danger ofpinching ones hand between the end of the applicator and theforce-applying member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, an ampouleapplicator is provided which alleviates the foregoing prior art problemsby providing an improved cocking mechanism and an improved lockingdevice which serves as a one-way check means or full stroke compellingmechanism for the force-transmitting member. It should be appreciated,however, that this invention may be employed in devices other thanampoule applicators. For example, this invention may be employed as afull stroke compelling mechanism for a hand-operated crimping tool forelectrical terminals and connectors to ensure a proper crimp prior torelease of the jaws. Furthermore, the invention may be employed inlever-operated air guns to prevent the lever from springing back on theusers hands prior to full cocking of the gun. 7

According to this invention, an ampoule applicator includes anelongated, cylindrical hollow body having one end adapted to removablyreceive an ampoule. The ampoule may be of the type which is adapted toinject a medicament into a patient by applying force to one end -of theampoule. The applicator also includes a force-transmitting member orpiston having a rod portion directed toward the ampoule, a head portionwhich is biased toward the ampoule by a relatively strong spring, and alockable and releasable cocking mechanism for retracting the pistonagainst the bias of the spring. As presently preferred, the cockingmechanism comprises a flexible cable having one end fixed to the headportion of the piston and its other end fixed to the periphery of apulley which is mounted at the other end of the hollow, cylindricalbody. The forceapplying member may be retracted against the bias of thespring by a lever or handle which, in this instance, rotates the pulleyto thereby wind the flexible cable about the periphery of the pulley.

During retraction of the force-transmitting member, the tendency of theforce-transmitting member to be driven toward the ampoule by the springis resisted by a one-way check means or full stroke compellingmechanism. The one-way check means includes a rollable member, such as asphere, which is positioned between the piston rod and the cylindricalhousing. A wedge means is provided which causes the rollable member tobe forced into firm frictional engagement with the piston rod andthereby restrain any tendency of the rod to move toward the ampoule.According to one aspect of this invention, the wedge means comprises atapered slot in the cylindrical housing having sidewalls which covergetoward an imaginary apex which is directed toward the ampoule so that asthe rollable member is rolled along the slot by movement of the rodtoward the ampoule, it is progressively forced radially inwardly towardthe rod by movement of the rod toward the ampoule, with a wedging effectthat opposes such movement of the rod.

With the force-applying member in a retracted position and with anampoule properly installed in the applicator, the force-applying membermay be triggered or released by moving the rollable member out of itsfirm frictional engagement with the rod. According to the specificembodiment illustrated herein, this is accomplished by a pin mounted onthe lever or handle which may be extended into the tapered slot to drivethe rotatable member away from the imaginary apex of the tapered slot.To prevent repeated firing of the applicator (which would tend to causefatigue to certain elements thereof) when an ampoule is not positionedin the applicator, a blocking device is provided which prevents entry ofthe pin into the slot unless the blocking means is contacted by anampoule.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of theapplicator according to this invention showing the applicator in a tiredcondition.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the applicator, with portions brokenaway for clarity, showing the applicator in a cocked condition, with thelever not yet returned to a positioned adjacent the body of theapplicator.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the applicator illustrating the taperedslot.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the applicator with portions broken away forclarity.

' FIG. 5 is a partially schematic view, illustrating the travel of therollable member along the tapered slot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION There is disclosed in the drawingan ampoule applicator which, in combination with a hypodermic ampoule11, is adapted to inject a medicament into a patient. The particularhypodermic ampoule l l illustrated herein is more fully described in thecopending application of Hurschman et al., Ser. No. 1 14,493, filed Feb.11, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,761, and assigned to the same assigneeas the present application. The ampoule 11 comprises a cylinder 12 whichis preferably made from glass tubing.

One end of the cylinder 12 is closed by a diaphragm 14 which is pressedagainst it by a plastic clip 15. This closure arrangement is more fullydescribed in the copending application of l-Iurschman et al. The otherend of the cylinder 12 is closed by a plunger formed to have a slidinginterference fit with the inner sidewall of the cylinder 12. The plunger20, the diaphragm 14, and

5 the cylinder 12, together, define a chamber 21 which is substantiallyfilled with a liquid medicament.

Entirely enclosed within the chamber 21 is a hypodermic needle 22. Thehypodermic needle 22 has a circular base (not shown) at the butt end ofthe needle that is mounted on the plunger 20 so that the needle is insubstantial axial alignment with the cylinder 12 so that the pointed endof the needle is in position to be forced through the diaphragm 14.

The ampoule applicator 10 includes a cylindrical housing having an axialbore 31 and a counterbore 32 therein. In order to mount the hypodermicampoule I 11 in the applicator 10, a mounting sleeve 33 is provided. Themounting sleeve 33 is threaded into one end of the applicator l0 and hasan annular, axially extending, inwardly offset shoulder 35 at one endthereof. The ampoule 1 1 is installed in the mounting sleeve 33 byinserting it through an opening 36 in the sleeve 33 and is held withinthe sleeve by a bayonet-type connection between the ampoule 11 and thesleeve. This connection is more fully set forth in the copendingapplication of I-Iurschman, Ser. No. 114,423, filed Feb. 11, 1971, nowU.S. Pat. No. 3,729,003. With the ampoule l1 properly installed in thismanner, the opposite end of the ampoule cylinder 12 projects apredetermined distance beyond the shoulder 35.

The ampoule applicator 10 also includes a forceapplying mechanism fordriving the ampoule plunger 20 from the position illustrated in FIG. 2to the position illustrated in FIG. 1. The force-applying mechanismcomprises a force-applying member or piston having a head portion 46which is slidably mounted within the counterbore 32 and a piston rod 47which axially projects toward the ampoule plunger 20. The piston 45 isbiased downwardly as viewed in the drawing by a relatively strongcompression spring 48.

The piston 45 may be retracted from the fired position illustrated inFIG. 1 to the cocked position illustrated in FIG. 2 by grasping a handle49 and swinging the handle 49 away from the body 30 to the positionillustrated in FIG. 2. The handle 49 is pivotally connected at its upperend to a pin 50 which extends transversely with respect to the bore 31.The upper end of the handle 49 is bifurcated to provide a pair of spacedflanges 51 and 52. Rotatably mounted on the pin 50 is a pulley 53 whichhas a circumferential groove 54 formed in its periphery. The groove 54has a flattened portion 55 and a cross pin 56 extends across theflattened portion. As may be seen most clearly in FIG. 4, the pin 56projects outwardly beyond the pulley faces. One end ofa flexible cable57 is fixed to the pin 56, and the other end of the cable is fixed tothe piston head 46 by a pin 58 extending across a shallow groove 59 cutinto the piston head.

The piston 45 is raised to a retracted position by swinging the handle49 outwardly relative to the body 30. As the handle 49 is swungoutwardly, abutment portions 60 and 61 on the flanges 51 and 52 bearagainst the extensions of the pin 56 to rotate the pulley 53 in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, so that theflexible cable 57 is progressively wrapped about the pulley groove 54.As the cable 57 which prevents movement of the piston toward its firedor extended position until the check means is released. In theillustrated embodiment, the check means includes a rollable member orball 62. The ball 62 is assembled in the bore 32 by inserting it througha semicircular opening 63 in the body 30. The diameter of the opening 63is slightly greater than the diameter of the ball 62 to permit thisinsertion step. The semicircular opening 63 blends into straightcoverging walls 64 and 65, which form a tapered or V-shaped slot. As maybe seen in FIG. 5, as the ball 62 travels from the opening 63 along theinside edges of the converging slot walls 64 and 65, the center of theball traces an imaginary line L, which approximates a hyperbolic curveand which curves toward the piston rod 47. To ensure frictional contactat all times between the ball 62 and the rod 47, and between the ball 62and the inside edges of the surfaces 64 and 65, a relatively lightcompression spring 70 is provided which tends lightly to urge the balltoward an imaginary apexa of the tapered slot.

Thus, as the piston rod 47 is retracted in the previously describedmanner, the piston rod 47 moves the ball 62 toward the opening 63 justenough so that relatively light pressure is exerted on the piston rod 47by the ball 62. If, .during retraction of the rod 47, the handle 49 isreleased, the rod 47 is urged toward the ampoule plunger by the spring48. Any noticeable return movement of the rod 70 in this direction,however, is resisted by the ball, since the rod 47 will tend to rotatethe ball 62 toward the apex of the V-shaped notch, thus driving the ballinto firmer frictional contact with the rod 47 as the ball 62 ridesinwardly on the inside edges of the notch faces 64 and 65. It will bereadily seen that this action rapidly builds up the pressure of the ballagainst the rod 47 and edges of the walls 64 and 65, and builds up thefriction therebetween at a corresponding rate. As a result, only aminute movement of the piston 45 causes a wedging of the ball betweenthe piston rod 47 and walls 64 and 65 that stops further rolling of theball in that direction while increasing the friction between the balland the piston rod so that return movement of the piston is almostinstantly arrested.

In order to ensure that the ball 62 will effectively restrain the rod 47against forward movement toward the ampoule during retraction, the balldiameter, the angle included by the converging sidewalls 64 and 6S, andthe distance between the rod 47 and the body 30 are selected so that apreselected effective wedging angle obtains. It is known that a ballwill restrain movement in one direction between relatively movablemembers if one of the members is provided with a wedge which slopestoward the other member at a preselected angle which exceeds thecoefficient of sliding friction between the ball and the movablemembers. This principle is employed in overrunning clutches. For a steelball in contact with steel members, the preselected angle should bebetween about 5 and 12, and preferably should be 7%". If the angle isless than 5, the frictional contact will be too great and it may bedifficult to release the ball from frictional contact. If, on the otherhand, the angle exceeds 12, the wedging action will not be firm enoughand slippage may occur.

According to the present invention, it has been found that a ballrolling in a slot having converging sidewalls produces a wedging effectwhich corresponds to the wedging effect which results from the use of anactual wedge and which, itself, has an effective wedging angle. It is,of course, far simpler to merely stamp or cut a slot in a member than itis to weld or otherwise affix a separate wedge to one of the members. Asused in the specification and claims of this application, the termeffective wedging angle" is hereby defined as the slope of the locus ofpoints traced by the center of a sphere rolling along a slot formed in asurface and having converging sidewalls, with the slope measured at theintersection of the locus and a plane defined by three points of contactby the sphere with the sidewalls of the slot and a member spaced fromthe slot (e.;g., the rod 47). The effective wedging angle is betweenabout 5 and 12, and is preferably '7 H.

In FIG. 5, the line L represents the locus and the ball 62 is shown tobe locked in a position producing an effective wedging angle of 756,with the intersection of the curve L (the locus) and the aforementionedplane P being indicated by the reference numeral 95. It has been foundthat if the inside diameter of the housing 30 is 0.650 inch, if thediameter of the rod 47 is 0.300 inch, if the diameter of the 'ball 62 is0.218 inch, and if the angle included by the sidewalls 64 and 65 isabout 28, an effective wedging angle will obtain.

A particular advantage of the slot and ball arrangement is that as thesidewalls 64 and 65 wear after repeated use, the ball will tend tooperate in a position closer to the convergence of the walls 64 and 65and, therefore, the effective wedging angle will be less than 7%.Therefore, the wedging effect: will increase during use of the device.

Although the spring biases the ball 62 away from the opening 63, andensures that the ball will not accidentally drop out of the opening 63,a further means is provided to ensure that the ball will remain in theapplicator and to prevent tampering with the ball. To this end, there isprovided a sleeve 71 which extends from the sleeve 33 to a locationwhich ensures that the opening 63 will be covered. For a purpose whichwill hereinafter become apparent, a portion of the slot is leftuncovered by an aperture 72 in the sleeve 71.

The fully retracted position of the piston 45 is illustrated in FIG. 2and is established when the handle 49 engages a stop portion 73 of thebody 30. After the piston 45 is retracted in this manner, the handle 49may be returned to the position illustrated in FIG. 1, and the piston 45will be held in its retracted position by the ball wedging action of theone-way check means. An ampoule. 11 may then be installed! in theapplicator in the previously described manner.

For firing the piston 45, means. are provided to release the one-waycheck means and render it inoperative during the piston stroke. To thisend, there is provided a pin 74 in the handle 49. The pin 74 is slidablymounted in an aperture 75 and has a head portion which bears against asloped camming surface 76 of a trigger piston 77. The trigger button 77is slidable within a slot 78 in the handle 49 and is biased to theposition illustrated in FIG. 1 by a spring 79. By pushing the button 77downwardly along the slot 78 and against the bias of the spring 79, thecam surface 76 forces the pin 74 axially through the opening 75 towardthe body so that the pin 74 enters the body 30 through parallelextensions 80 of the slot walls 64 and 65. As the pin 74 enters betweenthe extensions 80, a rounded end portion 81 of the pin engages an edge82 of a washer 83 which is loosely mounted within the bore 32 andsurrounds the piston rod 47. The washer 83 is thereby driven upwardly,as viewed in FIG. 1, so as to drive the ball 62 upwardly and away fromthe imaginary apex at of the tapered slot and out of firm frictionalengagement with the rod 47. When the ball 62 has been moved in thismanner, the spring 48 drives the piston 45 downwardly to drive theplunger 20 to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 and thereby actuate theampoule 11 to perform an injection.

Of course, it should be appreciated that the pin 74 could be located sothat it would directly engage the ball 62 and the washer 83 could beeliminated. However, the washer 83 performs a second function ofpreventing release of the ball 62 by the pin 74 unless an ampoule isproperly installed within the applicator. As

may be seen in FIG. 1, insertion of an ampoule into the applicator liftsthe washer 83 away from the shoulder as required to permit the pin toengage the lower edge 82 of the washer. If the washer 83 is not liftedby the ampoule, it rests on the shoulder 35 in the position shown indotted outline in FIG. 1 to effectively block entry of the pin 74 intothe extension 80. So that the washer 83 will perform its blockingfunction when the applicator is held in any position, a light spring 90is provided which urges the washer 83 toward the shoulder 35.

The invention is not restricted to the slavish imitation of each andevery one of the details described above, which have been set forthmerely by way of example with the intent of most clearly setting forththe teaching of the invention. Obviously, devices may be provided whichchange, eliminate, or add certain specific details without departingfrom the invention.

We claim:

1. An ampoule applicator comprising a body and means for mountingthereon a medicament-containing hypodermic ampoule adapted to inject avolume of medicament into a patient, said applicator also includingforce-applying means mounted on said body for forward movement towardsaid ampoule mounting means along a predetermined path from a fullyretracted position, means biasing said force-applying means forwardlyalong said path, means for reversely moving said force-applying means toits fully retracted position against the bias of said biasing means, andone-way check means permitting reverse movement of said force-applyingmeans toward its retracted position but preventing any substantialforward movement of said force-applying means toward said ampoulemounting means when said force-applying means is in its fully retractedposition and when said force-applying means is in any position forwardthereof, said one-way check means comprising a rollable member and wedgemeans normally urging said rollable member into firm frictional contactwith said force-applying means to restrain forward movement thereof butpermitting reverse movement thereof toward its retracted position, saidcheck means being releasable to permit said forward movement, said wedgemeans comprising means defining a tapered slot in said body, said slothaving sidewalls converging toward said ampoule mounting means.

2. An ampoule applicator according to claim 1, wherein said rollablemember is spherical and normally positioned to roll along said taperedslot.

3. An ampoule applicator according to claim 2, including means biasingsaid rollable member toward the ampoule mounting means.

4. An ampoule applicator according to claim 1, including means torelieve firm frictional contact of said rollable member with saidforce-applying means for permitting said forward movement of saidforceapplying means.

5. An ampoule applicator according to claim 1, I

wherein the sidewalls of said tapered slot converge at an included angleto produce an effective wedging angle of between about 5 and 12.

6. An ampoule applicator according to claim 1, wherein the sidewalls ofsaid tapered slot converge at an included angle of about 28.

7. An ampoule applicator according to claim 1, wherein said means formoving said force-applying means to its retracted position against thebias of said spring means includes pulley means mounted on said body andflexible cable means having one end fixed to said force-applying means,and an opposite end fixed to said pulley means, and means to rotate saidpulley means so that portions of said cable means are wrapped about saidpulley means for pulling said force-applying means toward its retractedposition.

8. An ampoule applicator according to claim 7, wherein said pulley meansis rotatably mounted on said body, and wherein said means to rotate saidpulley means comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said body forswinging movement from a first position to a second position relative tosaid body, said pulley and lever having abutment means engaged byswinging said lever toward its second position for rotating said pulleyand disengaged by reverse swinging of said handle toward its firstposition while forward movement of said force-applying means isrestrained by said one-way check means.

9. An ampoule applicator comprising a body and means for mountingthereon a medicament-containing hypodermic ampoule havingmedicament-injecting means adapted to inject a volume of medicament intoa patient, said applicator also including force-applying means mountedon said body for movement toward said ampoule from a retracted positionrelative to said body for actuating said ampoule, means biasing saidforce-applying means toward said ampoule, means for moving saidforce-applying means to its retracted position against the bias of saidbiasing means, said means for moving said force-applying means includingpulley means mounted on said body, flexible cable means having one endfixed to said force-applying means and its opposite end fixed to saidpulley means, means to rotate said pulley means so that portions of saidcable means are wrapped about said pulley means to pull saidforce-applying means toward its retracted position and one-way checkmeans, said one-way check means comprising a rollable member and wedgemeans normally urging said rollable member into firm frictional contactwith said force-applying means to restrain forward movement thereof butpermitting reverse movement thereof toward its retracted position, saidcheck means being releasable to permit said forward movement, said wedgemeans comprising means defining a tapered slot in said body, said slothaving sidewalls converging toward said ampoule mounting means.

10. An ampoule applicator according to claim 9, wherein said rollablemember is spherical and normally positioned to roll along said taperedslot.

11. An ampoule applicator according to claim 10, including means biasingsaid rollable member toward the ampoule mounting means.

12. An ampoule applicator according to claim 9, including means torelieve firm frictional contact of said rollable member with saidforce-applying means for permitting said forward movement of saidforceapplying means.

13. An ampoule applicator according to claim 10, wherein the sidewallsof said tapered slot converge at an included angle to produce aneffective wedging angle of between about and 12.

14. An ampoule applicator according to claim 10, wherein the sidewallsof said tapered slot converge at an included angle of about 28.

15. An ampoule applicator according to claim 9, wherein said pulleymeans is rotatably mounted on said body, and wherein said means torotate said pulley means comprises a lever pivotally mounted on saidbody for swinging movement from a first position to a second positionrelative to said body, said pulley and lever having abutment meansengaged by swinging said lever toward its second position for rotatingsaid pulley and disengaged by reverse swinging of said handle toward itsfirst position while forward movement of said force-applying means isrestrained by said one-way check means.

16. An ampoule applicator according to claim 12, wherein said pulleymeans is rotatably mounted on one end of said body, wherein said meansto rotate said pulley means comprises a lever pivotally mounted on saidbody for swinging movement from a first position to a second positionrelative to said body, said pulley and lever having abutment meansengaged by swinging said lever toward its second position for rotatingsaid pulley and disengaged by revese swinging of said handle toward itsfirst position while forward movement of said force-applying means isrestrained by said one-way check means, and wherein said means to removeaid rollable member from its frictional contact with said force-applyingmeans comprises pin means on said lever which is operable to move saidrollable member out of firm frictional contact with said force-applyingmeans when said lever is in its first position.

17. An ampoule applicator according to claim 16, including meansoperable when an ampoule is not installed in said applicator to blocksaid pin means and prevent movement of said rollable member out of firmfrictional contact with said force-applying member.

18. An ampoule applicator comprising a body and means for mountingthereon a medicament-containing hypodermic ampoule having medicamentinjecting means adapted to inject a volume of medicament into a patient,said applicator also including force-applying means mounted on said bodyfor movement toward said ampoule from a retracted position relative tosaid body for actuating said ampoule, means biasing said force-applyingmeans toward said ampoule, means for moving said force-applying means toits retracted position against the bias of said biasing means, saidmeans for moving said force-applying means including pulley meansmounted on said body, flexible cable means having one end fixed to saidforce-applying means and its opposite end fixed to said pulley means,means to rotate said pulley means so that portions of said cable meansare wrapped about said pulley means to pull said force-applying meanstoward its retracted position, one-way check means, said one-way checkmeans comprising a rollable member and wedge means normally urging saidrollable member into firm frictional contact with said force-applyingmeans to restrain forward movement thereof by said biasing means butpermitting reverse movement thereof toward its retracted position, saidcheck means being releasable to permit said forward movement, means torelieve first frictional contact of said rollable member with saidforceapplying means for permitting said forward movement of saidforce-applying means, said pulley means being rotatably mounted on oneend of said body, said means to rotate said pulley means comprising alever pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement from a firstposition to a second position relative to said body, said pulley andlever having abutment means engaged by swinging said lever toward itssecond position for rotating said pulley and disengaged by reverseswinging of said handle toward its first position while forward movementof said force-applying means is restrained by said one-way check means,said means to remove said rollable member from its frictional contactwith said force-applying means comprising pin means on said lever whichis operable to move said rollable member out of firm frictional contactwith said force-applying means when said lever is in its first position.

19. An ampoule applicator according to claim 18, including meansoperable when an ampoule is not installed in said applicator to blocksaid pin means and prevent movement of said rollable member out of firmfrictional contact with said force-applying member.

1. An ampoule applicator comprising a body and means for mountingthereon a medicament-containing hypodermic ampoule adapted to inject avolume of medicament into a patient, said applicator also includingforce-applying means mounted on said body for forward movement towardsaid ampoule mounting means along a predetermined path from a fullyretracted position, means biasing said force-applying means forwardlyalong said path, means for reversely moving said force-applying means toits fully retracted position against the bias of said biasing means, andone-way check means permitting reverse movement of said forceapplyingmeans toward its retracted position but preventing any substantialforward movement of said force-applying means toward said ampoulemounting means when said force-applying means is in its fully retractedposition and when said force-applying means is in any position forwardthereof, said one-way check means comprising a rollable member and wedgemeans normally urging said rollable member into firm frictional contactwith said forceapplying means to restrain forward movement thereof butpermitting reverse movement thereof toward its retracted position, saidcheck means being releasable to permit said forward movement, said wedgemeans comprising means defining a tapered slot in said body, said slothaving sidewalls converging toward said ampoule mounting means.
 2. Anampoule applicator according to claim 1, wherein said rollable member isspherical and normally positioned to roll along said tapered slot.
 3. Anampoule applicator according to claim 2, including means biasing saidrollable member toward the ampoule mounting means.
 4. An ampouleapplicator according to claim 1, including means to relieve firmfrictional contact of said rollable member with said force-applyingmeans for permitting said forward movement of said force-applying means.5. An ampoule applicator according to claim 1, wherein the sidewalls ofsaid tapered slot converge at an included angle to produce an effectivewedging angle of between about 5* and 12*.
 6. An ampoule applicatoraccording to claim 1, wherein the sidewalls of said tapered slotconverge at an included angle of about 28*.
 7. An ampoule applicatoraccording to claim 1, wherein said means for moving said force-applyingmeans to its retracted position against the bias of said spring meansincludes pulley means mounted on said body and flexible cable meanshaving one end fixed to said force-applying means, and an opposite endfixed to said pulley means, and means to rotate said pulley means sothat portions of saId cable means are wrapped about said pulley meansfor pulling said force-applying means toward its retracted position. 8.An ampoule applicator according to claim 7, wherein said pulley means isrotatably mounted on said body, and wherein said means to rotate saidpulley means comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said body forswinging movement from a first position to a second position relative tosaid body, said pulley and lever having abutment means engaged byswinging said lever toward its second position for rotating said pulleyand disengaged by reverse swinging of said handle toward its firstposition while forward movement of said force-applying means isrestrained by said one-way check means.
 9. An ampoule applicatorcomprising a body and means for mounting thereon a medicament-containinghypodermic ampoule having medicament-injecting means adapted to inject avolume of medicament into a patient, said applicator also includingforce-applying means mounted on said body for movement toward saidampoule from a retracted position relative to said body for actuatingsaid ampoule, means biasing said force-applying means toward saidampoule, means for moving said force-applying means to its retractedposition against the bias of said biasing means, said means for movingsaid force-applying means including pulley means mounted on said body,flexible cable means having one end fixed to said force-applying meansand its opposite end fixed to said pulley means, means to rotate saidpulley means so that portions of said cable means are wrapped about saidpulley means to pull said force-applying means toward its retractedposition and one-way check means, said one-way check means comprising arollable member and wedge means normally urging said rollable memberinto firm frictional contact with said force-applying means to restrainforward movement thereof but permitting reverse movement thereof towardits retracted position, said check means being releasable to permit saidforward movement, said wedge means comprising means defining a taperedslot in said body, said slot having sidewalls converging toward saidampoule mounting means.
 10. An ampoule applicator according to claim 9,wherein said rollable member is spherical and normally positioned toroll along said tapered slot.
 11. An ampoule applicator according toclaim 10, including means biasing said rollable member toward theampoule mounting means.
 12. An ampoule applicator according to claim 9,including means to relieve firm frictional contact of said rollablemember with said force-applying means for permitting said forwardmovement of said force-applying means.
 13. An ampoule applicatoraccording to claim 10, wherein the sidewalls of said tapered slotconverge at an included angle to produce an effective wedging angle ofbetween about 5* and 12*.
 14. An ampoule applicator according to claim10, wherein the sidewalls of said tapered slot converge at an includedangle of about 28*.
 15. An ampoule applicator according to claim 9,wherein said pulley means is rotatably mounted on said body, and whereinsaid means to rotate said pulley means comprises a lever pivotallymounted on said body for swinging movement from a first position to asecond position relative to said body, said pulley and lever havingabutment means engaged by swinging said lever toward its second positionfor rotating said pulley and disengaged by reverse swinging of saidhandle toward its first position while forward movement of saidforce-applying means is restrained by said one-way check means.
 16. Anampoule applicator according to claim 12, wherein said pulley means isrotatably mounted on one end of said body, wherein said means to rotatesaid pulley means comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said body forswinging movement from a first position to a second position relative tosaid body, said pulley and lever having abutment means engaged byswinging said lever toward its second position for rotating said pulleyand disengaged by revese swinging of said handle toward its firstposition while forward movement of said force-applying means isrestrained by said one-way check means, and wherein said means to removeaid rollable member from its frictional contact with said force-applyingmeans comprises pin means on said lever which is operable to move saidrollable member out of firm frictional contact with said force-applyingmeans when said lever is in its first position.
 17. An ampouleapplicator according to claim 16, including means operable when anampoule is not installed in said applicator to block said pin means andprevent movement of said rollable member out of firm frictional contactwith said force-applying member.
 18. An ampoule applicator comprising abody and means for mounting thereon a medicament-containing hypodermicampoule having medicament injecting means adapted to inject a volume ofmedicament into a patient, said applicator also including force-applyingmeans mounted on said body for movement toward said ampoule from aretracted position relative to said body for actuating said ampoule,means biasing said force-applying means toward said ampoule, means formoving said force-applying means to its retracted position against thebias of said biasing means, said means for moving said force-applyingmeans including pulley means mounted on said body, flexible cable meanshaving one end fixed to said force-applying means and its opposite endfixed to said pulley means, means to rotate said pulley means so thatportions of said cable means are wrapped about said pulley means to pullsaid force-applying means toward its retracted position, one-way checkmeans, said one-way check means comprising a rollable member and wedgemeans normally urging said rollable member into firm frictional contactwith said force-applying means to restrain forward movement thereof bysaid biasing means but permitting reverse movement thereof toward itsretracted position, said check means being releasable to permit saidforward movement, means to relieve first frictional contact of saidrollable member with said force-applying means for permitting saidforward movement of said force-applying means, said pulley means beingrotatably mounted on one end of said body, said means to rotate saidpulley means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said body forswinging movement from a first position to a second position relative tosaid body, said pulley and lever having abutment means engaged byswinging said lever toward its second position for rotating said pulleyand disengaged by reverse swinging of said handle toward its firstposition while forward movement of said force-applying means isrestrained by said one-way check means, said means to remove saidrollable member from its frictional contact with said force-applyingmeans comprising pin means on said lever which is operable to move saidrollable member out of firm frictional contact with said force-applyingmeans when said lever is in its first position.
 19. An ampouleapplicator according to claim 18, including means operable when anampoule is not installed in said applicator to block said pin means andprevent movement of said rollable member out of firm frictional contactwith said force-applying member.